The West African Ebola outbreak is in need of drastic action by health professionals and governments or health officials worry the epidemic could spread and infect many more people, causing a larger number of deaths that could be curtailed.
While the outbreak appears to be under some control by health professionals, the World Health Organization fears the outbreak could spread if stronger containment actions are not taken immediately.
Since the outbreak was first reported in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, around 400 people have died as a result of the virus, with another 250 or so falling ill to the disease but surviving. There is no vaccine. It is one of the most dangerous viruses on the planet and concerns that it could spread outside the containment zone have health professionals watching the situation closely.
Historically, Ebola outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa have been confined by strict infection-control and containment efforts that keep them localized, but this time there have been more than 60 locations where patients have been identified, making tracking the origin of this outbreak more difficult.
Luis Sambo, WHO's regional director for Africa, called the outbreak a crisis and one that requires action from the governments where patients are located and other health partners to stave off a potential massive crisis. WHO has a fact sheet on the disease with tips on containment and treatment.
"There is an urgent need to intensify response efforts; to promote cross-border collaboration and information sharing of suspected cases and contacts ... and to mobilize all sectors of the community," said Sambo. "This is the only way that the outbreak will be effectively addressed."
There are growing fears that if governments fail to act now as the virus could be controlled and a further outbreak avoided, the virus could spread into urban areas and travel across the planet, leading to the potential of a massive outbreak that the world would be unable to stop.
Early signs of Ebola include muscle pain, fever, conjunctivitis and headaches. Later it leads to severe symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and hemorrhaging both internal and external.
Medical professionals, much to no avail, have urged those who have lost a loved one to the virus not to attend an open-air funeral of the person who passed away from the virus as it leaves them exposed and more open to contracting the virus. Funeral customs such as preparing the body for burial also can spread the disease, as the infection spreads through contact with infected fluids.
This version of Ebola is the second worst strain. Another strain is known to kill more than 90 percent of those who contract the virus and was the basis for the virus in the popular Hollywood film "Outbreak."
